A horrific road accident struck Punjab's Sangrur district on Sunday afternoon, October 18, 2026. Near Alisher village on the Lehragaga-Jakhal road, labourers employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) were drinking water by the roadside when a speeding car rammed into them. Five labourers died on the spot, and nine deaths have been confirmed overall, Lehragaga police station SHO Inspector Jaskaran Singh told ANI. The accident occurred at around 3:30 pm.

Sangrur's Senior Medical Officer Dr Vinod Kumar said eight people were brought to hospital. At least 12 others were injured, some of them seriously, and were referred to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. According to reports, the vehicle was a Chevrolet Magnum (registration PB 11 CP 0080).

The driver has been identified as Pargat Singh Kala, a resident of Raidhrana; reports say he abandoned the vehicle and fled, and police have registered an FIR and launched raids to arrest him. Local residents alleged ambulances arrived late — an allegation not yet officially confirmed. DSP Palwinder Singh Cheema assured protesting residents of strict legal action for rash and negligent driving. Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal expressed grief and condolences to the bereaved families.

(Sources: ANI via LatestLY, Daily Jagran citing India Today, Times of India — October 18, 2026)